A deliciously moist and authentic copycat KFC Chicken recipe. This Air Fryer fried chicken is golden brown and delicious. It’s soaked in buttermilk for delicious Southern flavor.
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KFC Copycat Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Who doesn’t love Kentucky Fried Chicken? For years, people have been trying to copycat KFC Fried Chicken. Well, this is about the closest you are going to get. I’ve heard of some saying there is a copycat recipe out there that tastes nothing like KFC. However, this air fryer Fried Chicken tastes just like it because if it didn’t, my husband wouldn’t eat it. He’s fussy like that. lol
This Air Fryer fried chicken is a healthier and easier version of traditional fried chicken. Soaked in buttermilk, covered in seasoned flour, and air fried to perfection.
KFC Spice Blend Ingredients:
**For exact amount of each needed please see the recipe card below.
- chicken drumsticks or thighs
- Buttermilk
- Eggs
- Flour
- Salt
- Thyme
- Basil
- Oregano
- Celery salt
- Black pepper
- Dried mustard
- Paprika
- Garlic salt
- Ground ginger
- White pepper
- Oil of choice (peanut or vegetable oil) (for deep frying version)
How to Make KFC Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Soak the chicken legs in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before starting this recipe.
- Place the eggs in one bowl and the flour and spices in a second bowl. Stir the spices well into the flour and beat the eggs.
- Place an oven-safe cooling rack overtop of a baking sheet.
- Remove chicken one piece at a time from buttermilk.
- Dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the eggs, and then the flour once again.
- Put the coated drumstick on the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Preheat air fryer to 390°.
- Place Parchment round
in bottom of air fryer so chicken doesn’t stick to bottom. - Lay chicken in a single layer in Ninja Foodi or Air Fryer so the pieces aren’t touching.
- Air Fry for 13 minutes. Flip over. If there are any dry spots where the flour is showing, you can spritz with olive oil. Fry for another 13 minutes. Check that the internal temperature is 165°. If not then cook for 5 minutes at a time until done.
in bottom of 
so chicken doesn’t stick to bottom.
or 
so the pieces aren’t touching.
with olive oil. Fry for another 13 minutes. Check that the 
is 165°. If not then cook for 5 minutes at a time until done.
- Enjoy!
Deep Fried & Oven Fried Chicken Directions:
- Preheat oven to 300F
- Soak the chicken legs in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before starting this recipe.
- Break the eggs in one bowl and the flour and spices in a second bowl. Stir the spices well into the flour and beat the eggs.
- Place an oven-safe cooling rack overtop of a baking sheet – this will serve two purposes during your recipe.
- Remove chicken one piece at a time from buttermilk.
- Dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the eggs, and then the flour once again. Place the coated drumstick on the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Pour your oil in a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. (You can alternatively use a deep fryer.)
- Fry the chicken legs in batches of 3 for 2-4 minutes until the coating is golden.
- Remove the chicken to the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until an inserted thermometer reads 165F.
and the flour and spices in a second 
. Stir the spices well into the flour and beat the eggs.
overtop of a 
– this will serve two purposes during your recipe.
and repeat with remaining chicken.
or 
over medium-high heat. (You can alternatively use a 
.)
and repeat with remaining chicken.
reads 165F.
Yield: 10
Air Fryer Fried Chicken KFC Copycat
A deliciously moist and authentic copycat KFC Chicken recipe. This Air Fryer fried chicken is golden brown and delicious. It’s soaked in buttermilk for delicious Southern flavor.
Prep Time
12 hours
Cook Time
26 minutes
Total Time
12 hours 26 minutes
Ingredients
- 10 chicken drumsticks or thighs
- 1 cup Buttermilk
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups flour
- 2/3 teaspoon salt
- Half teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/3 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon celery salt
- Teaspoon black pepper
- One teaspoon dried mustard
- 4 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 teaspoon white pepper
Instructions
- Soak the chicken legs in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before starting this recipe.
- Beat the eggs in one bowl and the flour and spices in a second bowl. Stir the spices well into the flour and beat the eggs.
- Place an oven-safe cooling rack overtop of a baking sheet.
- Remove chicken one piece at a time from buttermilk.
- Dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the eggs, and then the flour once again. Place the coated drumstick on the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Preheat Air Fryer to 390°.
- Place Parchment round in bottom of air fryer so chicken doesn't stick to bottom.
- Lay chicken in a single layer in Ninja Foodie or Air Fryer so the pieces aren't touching.
- Air Fry for 13 minutes. Flip over. If there are any dry spots where the flour is showing, you can spritz with olive oil. Fry for another 13 minutes. Check that the internal temperature is 165°. If not then cook for 5 minutes at a time until done.
- Enjoy!
Deep Fried & Oven Fried Chicken Directions:
- 6+ cups oil of choice (peanut or vegetable oil) (for deep frying version)
- Preheat oven to 300F.
- Soak the chicken legs in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before starting this recipe.
- Break the eggs in one bowl and the flour and spices in a second bowl. Stir the spices well into the flour and beat the eggs.
- Place an oven-safe cooling rack overtop of a baking sheet - this will serve two purposes during your recipe.
- Remove chicken one piece at a time from buttermilk.
- Dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the eggs, and then the flour once again. Place the coated drumstick on the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Pour your oil in a large dutch oven or stockpot over medium-high heat. (You can alternatively use a deep fryer.)
- Fry the chicken legs in batches of 3 for 2-4 minutes until the coating is golden.
- Remove the chicken to the cooling rack and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until an inserted thermometer reads 165F.
Recommended Products
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Checkered Chef Baking Sheet and Rack Set - Aluminum Cookie Sheet Tray/Half Sheet Pan for Baking with Stainless Steel Oven Safe Cooling Rack
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Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker's Half Sheet (2 Pack), Silver
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Lodge 6 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Classic Red Enamel Dutch Oven (Island Spice Red)
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Cuisinart 766-26 Chef's Classic 12-Quart Stockpot with Cover, Brushed Stainless
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Digital Instant Meat Thermometer
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Ninja OP301 Pressure Cooker, Steamer & Air Fryer
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Instant Pot IP-DUO60 321 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6-QT, Stainless Steel/Black
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U-Taste 10 Piece Measuring Cups and Spoons Set in 18/8 Stainless Steel
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Baking Parchment Circles, Set of 100, 7 Inch Non Stick Round Parchment Paper for Springform Cake Tin, Toaster Oven, Microwave and so on
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Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (Set of 6) Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set - Easy To Clean, Nesting Bowls for Space Saving Storage, Great for Cooking, Baking, Prepping
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Healthy Cooking Utensils Set - 6 Wooden Spoons For Cooking – Natural Nonstick Hard Wood Spatula and Spoons – Uncoated and Unglued – Durable Eco-friendly and Safe Kitchen Cooking Tools.
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New Star Foodservice 42917 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons and Cups Combo, Set of 8, Silver
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
3Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1063Total Fat: 39gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 568mgSodium: 2518mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 4gSugar: 5gProtein: 100g
Nutrition may vary depending on the products used.
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I cook at KFC and there is no buttermilk in our recipe. In fact the only liquid is water.
This recipe is from a long time ago. Maybe it has changed over the years. The buttermilk can be omitted, however, it helps the breading to stick better and fries up crispier.
It would be nice to see pictures of 3 versions…side by side…so as to see difference. Which cooking version is in pictures?
Thanks
Bertie
The cooking version in the pictures is the oven fried. Great suggestion to show all three though. I will have to work on that in the next couple weeks. Thanks for the tip.
yes pictures of the chicken in the fryer would be good, do ya put it on one rack or two? how many pcs can one do at a time? do you spray oil on the chicken?
I use 1 rack as that’s all I have. I spritz it only if it’s not browning. I’m working on the pics in the air fryer. Thank you.
First time using air fryer. Followed your instructions. The crust was a smooth layer, not chicken-fried looking at all. Could not detect any taste from the spices.
Did you spritz it with oil?
Can I ask why no chicken breasts?
I dont like dark meat. I know everyone says its juicier. I just like white chicken and turkey breasts. To me their juicy.
I, want to try this recipe sounds good and yes KFC is my favorit. Any hints for cooking breadts in air fryer please. Thank you
I know what you mean. My husband eats only white meat. I have not made it with chicken breasts only yet. I will post a new one once I do.
I’m looking for a way to print the air fry recipe, but can’t find it. Is there a way to print if? Thank you
Sharon, if you scroll down to the recipe card, under the picture there is a print button. Hit the print button and it will open a new window for you to print it from.
Really not close to KFC
Did you make it?
Ginger in KFC?
It was an original recipe so it might have changed over the past few years.